RUGBY

Rugby officials must take immediate action to reduce head injuries, according to researchers, after a study found that former international players are 15 times more likely to develop motor neurone disease.

Academics who studied a cohort of former Scottish internationals discovered that the ex-players were about 2.5 times more likely than the general population to develop neurodegenerative disease.

A team led by the University of Glasgow compared health outcomes among 412 male Scottish former international rugby players with over 1200 matched individuals from the general population in the most recent study.

The findings, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, revealed that while former players died at a slightly older age, they were also at a higher risk of being diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease than their matched controls.

The risk varies depending on the sub-type, but not by player position. In addition to an increased risk of developing motor neurone disease, the risk of Parkinson’s disease is three times higher.


Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn to get the latest updates from Cape Town Tribune

Sign Up for Our Newsletters

Get notified of the best deals on our WordPress themes.

You May Also Like

Pitso On Luring PSL Players To Saudi Arabia: ‘SA Teams Expect A Lot Of Money.’

Pitso Mosimane and his coaching staff will fly to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,…

Orlando Pirates vs ES Setif Preview

The Buccaneers are back for continental business as they seek to preserve their group lead and unbeaten record when they host their Algerian visitors, Orlando

Highlights From Chelsea vs. Fulham

Hello and welcome along to live coverage on tonight’s Premier League encounter between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

Youth vs. Udinese Highlights Cristiano Ronaldo Demonstrates That He Is Still Grasping At Straws.

On a day in which Inter Milan became the first team since 2011 to grapple the Serie A title away from the Old Lady, Andrea Pirlo’s side travelled (Udinese)